England and Group B analysis...and your thoughts... - TalkSoccer

**Jager** · 10-12-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Eriksson: It could have been much worse

Coach Sven Goran Eriksson admitted England had been fortunate in the World Cup draw but, after facing Argentina, Nigeria and Sweden in the Far East three years ago, he was more than satisfied.

AdamDavy/Empics
Lars Lagerback and Sven Goran Eriksson shake hands following the draw
Eriksson's side will face his compatriots Sweden as well as Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago in group B.

'On paper we are favourites [to win the group] but you never know in a World Cup,' he said.

'Trinidad and Tobago (who have a number of players based in England) will want to beat England - but who doesn't? I'm sure they will look forward to the match very, very much.

'They are difficult games of course but I am happy with the group. It could have been worse, much worse. It was a very tough group last time.'

There is the prospect of meeting hosts Germany in the second round should either side win and the other finish runner-up in their respective groups but Eriksson did not feel that was a realistic proposition.

'I think Germany will win their group. It is better to play Poland than Germany in a knock-out match but we will try to win the group and that is it,' he told BBC World.

Eriksson insisted it was time for England to secure their first win over his native Sweden in 37 years.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'Sooner or later it is time to beat them and hopefully it will be in Germany.

'They are very organised and have two very good centre-forwards. It will be difficult but it will be difficult for Sweden as well.'

Eriksson admitted the draw 'could have been worse', adding: 'Trinidad and Tobago? I haven't seen them.

'We are going to see them but I know they have a lot of players in England.'

The Swede insisted the team would focus on qualifying as winners from Group B, saying: 'I think it's important to do everything to win the group and that way you can avoid Germany in the next game.'

Should England progress to the quarter-finals they could face Argentina but Eriksson insisted any opponent at that stage would present a tough proposition.

'If you reach the quarter-final the opponents will be tough - among the best in the world,' he said. 'You can't reach it and expect it to be easy.

'Let's try to win the group and take every game as it comes. Our team is very good. The important thing is to have all the players available and injury free.'

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback admitted he had hoped to avoid drawing England for the second successive time.

'England have a very good team with a lot of players who do well in Europe in big clubs,' he told TV 4 Sweden.

'I must say that I'd have been more pleased with the draw if we could have avoided England.

'England is a better draw than Brazil and Argentina but it will be a hard game for us.'

Asked about the prospect of once again pitting his wits against Eriksson and his assistant Tord Grip, he added: 'They will figure in my nightmares until the game - it's funny that we have been drawn together again.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...351701&cc=5901

After two difficult WC draws, I feel this is one is great.

mr.watford · 10-12-2005, 10:26 AM

should be straight forward, and its most likely poland in the second round. great draw

**russe||** · 10-12-2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.watford

should be straight forward, and its most likely poland in the second round. great draw

Yeah, after the second round things get a little trickier but you can't expect an easy game in the 1/4s so we can't complain.

bigbob1 · 10-12-2005, 10:40 AM

should be easy on paper............but T T .......THE UNKNOWN FACTOR they beat mexico to reach finals

**Jager** · 10-12-2005, 10:41 AM

They won't give England much trouble. You couldn't have asked for a better group.

bigbob1 · 10-12-2005, 10:44 AM

fingers crossed........

**Jager** · 10-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Later rounds is another story. I predict England will impress in this WC, and I have nothing to back it up.

Goalkeeping is the achilles heel of England. Its unfortunate they have trouble developing a top notch keeper like a Buffon, Dida or Cech.

mr.watford · 10-12-2005, 10:59 AM

Robinson is a good keeper, he is not one of our main problems.

**Sven** · 10-12-2005, 11:48 AM

our main problem is rio lol

.

hanuma · 10-12-2005, 01:42 PM

robinson is one of the best goalkeepers in europe.

dida is shite...remarkably overrated.

joe cole needs to move up a gear for england to stand a chance of winning the world cup...and gerrard needs to accept being an anchor man for them.

**Jager** · 11-12-2005, 07:56 AM

Dida is not sh!t, he's not the greatest.

If he's playing in Milan, that should be enough for you and anybody who plays that way. Unless your saying Milan can't afford a better keeper.

Most keepers would give anything to goalkeep at Milan in the San Siro.

hanuma · 11-12-2005, 01:12 PM

he is shite...he lost milan the champions league final and he has the judgement of a one eyed fish.

he makes ridiculous mistakes, is as thick as a donkey and its remarkable how overrated he is.

CantonaStillGod · 11-12-2005, 11:46 PM

I always thought Abbiati was the better all-rounder. Dida is a wonderful shot stopper but there's more to the game than that isn't there...

hanuma · 12-12-2005, 12:36 AM

exactly....dida has the frame and athleticism to pull out saves with the best of them...but quite frankly even league 2 goalkeepers are occasionally able to pull off world class saves....goalkeeping is so much more about consistency and solidity.

**russe||** · 12-12-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CantonaStillGod

I always thought Abbiati was the better all-rounder. Dida is a wonderful shot stopper but there's more to the game than that isn't there...

David James is a brilliant example. He can pull off amazing saves but his judgement is shocking.